El Celler de Can Roca
Spanish restaurants traditionally fare well in the S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Ferran Adria's El Bulli held the top spot for five years (four consecutively) and Arzak, Mugaritz and El Celler de Can Roca have held high places since the list began. From 2010 to 2012 Spain was held back from the number one spot by Danish restaurant Noma which wowed judges with its innovative and inventive approach to both its cooking and its strictly local sourcing and foraging.
However, the arrival of 2013's awards also bought the return of Spain to the top with El Celler de Can Roca, the forward-thinking Girona restaurant run by brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca who rightfully have been enjoying the accolade since this photo was taken at the awards ceremony in London on 29 April.